Nov. 6, 2006

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's women's basketball team begins its 2006-07 campaign with an exhibition game against Columbia Union on Nov. 7 at the Patriot Center with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.

The Patriots return four starters from last year's squad, as well as 12 letterwinners. Junior Moni Akintunde is one of two Mason players who started every game last year and she closed out the season leading Mason in rebounds with 7.2 per game, which was also 10th among CAA peers. Senior Tracy Ann Holness saw action in all 29 games and was in the starting line-up every game except for two. Holness closed out the year second among teammates in both points and rebounds with 9.3 and 4.8, respectively.

Nikkia Slade, a junior college transfer, saw action in all 29 games in 2005-06 and started three of those contests. Slade ended the year third on the team in rebounds with 4.1 per game and garnered a field goal percentage of .407. Redshirt sophomore center Jessica Smith missed only one game for the Patriots and was in the starting line-up on 24 occasions. The Patriots closed out last season with an overall record of 12-17 and a 7-11 mark in league play to finish the year eighth in the conference.

The Patriots open up their regular season at Maryland, the 2006 NCAA National Champion, on Nov. 12 in College Park, Md. at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet.